News Is Affirmative Action for Clueless Congress Members Justified?

[Rach3]

What to do you with an inexperienced, unpopular congressperson, who just barely got elected, and will be spending much of his free time working on another close campaign in two years? Yes, put them in an important committee position, to boost their re-election image!

It is the “incumbent retention program,” a detailed plan worked out after Democrats gained control of Congress to fortify the most politically shaky with plum committee assignments, prized bill sponsorship and an early start on fund-raising — all in preparation for their 2008 re-election campaigns.

...The 110th Congress has not even been sworn into office. But in a measure of the determination not to surrender the majority in two years, Representative Nancy Pelosi, the presumptive speaker, has instructed aides to begin acting immediately to help Democrats who won by small margins in districts where President Bush did well in 2004 or who coasted in because their opponents were mired by controversy. Those new members are methodically being given coveted spots on high-profile committees, in particular the Financial Services Committee, a magnet for campaign contributions, and the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, a platform from which to send money for projects back home.

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/12/22/u...&en=5c167c76ea14a864&ei=5094&partner=homepage

I'm lucky to be cynical. I never expected the Democrats to put experienced and capable leadership over crass political gain. Oh well.

 

[McGyver]

The Dems aren't doing anything that the Tom Delays and Carl Roves didn't do. Which is worse: incompetant legislators, or arogant, corrupt and incompetant legislators. I personally thing we could put chimpanzees in Washington, and based on sheer odds, they couldn't do any worse. And chimpanzees are more trustworthy!

 

[verty]

They're all power grabbers.

 

[Astronuc]

Those new members are methodically being given coveted spots on high-profile committees, in particular the Financial Services Committee, a magnet for campaign contributions, and the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, a platform from which to send money for projects back home.

This is very troublesome. The only motivation for campaign contributions is to 'buy influence'.

The Dems aren't doing anything that the Tom Delays and Carl Roves didn't do.

While probably true, it is wrong.

We need to support the 'reformers' in Congress, e.g. Jeff Flake (Republican) of Arizona.